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13 Feb 2011 10:41

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World: Update: What the Egyptian military leadership plans to do next

  • before The Egyptian military took control of the country’s government after Hosni Mubarak resigned late last week.
  • now The military has now dissolved the country’s parliament and has called for fresh elections within six months or so.
  • later Emergency rule still rules, but it’s something the army says will go away once the security situation improves. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

12 Feb 2011 12:03

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World: How does Mubarak feel about Egypt’s move towards democracy?

  • He called up an Israeli lawmaker just before he resigned to speak his mind a little. To put it simply, Mubarak feels, much like many Israeli officials, that a move towards democracy in Egypt will give rise to extremism. “He gave me a lesson in democracy and said: ‘We see the democracy the United States spearheaded in Iran and with Hamas, in Gaza, and that’s the fate of the Middle East,'” said Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former Israeli cabinet minister. “‘They may be talking about democracy but they don’t know what they’re talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam.'” In other words, Mubarak is all grumblecakey about the rise of democracy in the country, which he feels will hurt the region more than help it. And yes, we said “grumblecakey.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

12 Feb 2011 11:47

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World: Algerian riot police literally puts stranglehold on protests

A number of people reportedly took part in the protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, but unfortunately for them, thousands of riot police were out in full force. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 23:56

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Biz, World: Wael Ghonim’s situation a TAD uncomfortable for Google

  • They did not know anything about this and actually when I took the time off and I went to Cairo, they did not know I was going to the protest. But when everything became public, I talked with the company and they suggested that I take a leave of absence and I also suggested that to them and I think it was a good decision for that. Google has nothing to do with this.
  • Wael Ghonim • Talking about the now-unbreakable tie between his activism and his employment with Google. This is not the kind of thing that people like to see in the workforce – employees tied to public companies taking an active role in the political process, and as a result, tying the company’s name to the issue. “It’s one of those things that companies don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole,” one public-relations executive in the tech industry said about the matter. As far as Ghonim’s situation goes, he took a leave a leave of absence with the company and is happy to return at some point. Well, that is “if I’m not fired.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 20:04

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World: On the Islamic Revolution’s 32nd anniversary, could Iran be next?

If Ahmadinejad has a nervous look on his face, it’s because the Egyptian protests may give Iranian activists new life on Monday. Especially after Wael Ghonim gave the Green Revolution a big up. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 18:07

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World: One country not cheering about Mubarak’s exit: Israel

  • The Muslim Brotherhood has already said they won’t be committed to the peace treaty. I don’t see a military conflict with Israel. But the whole regional order of the last 30 years will be totally shattered.
  • Former Israel ambassador to Egypt Eli Shaked • Expressing his, and by extension his country’s fears over losing a major ally in the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak. Unlike the United States, Israel never turned away from their longtime ally in fear of what would come for Egypt after. Their biggest fear? While they don’t expect another war in the region, they fear the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood, a group they feel would be against Israel, would gain a foothold in Egyptian politics. There’s a point where diplomatic concerns becomes a poor reason to diplomatically block a country’s freedoms, and most countries feel we passed it. Israel apparently didn’t. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 11:21

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World: Mohamed ElBaradei on Mubarak: “The country has been liberated”

  • This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated.
  • Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei • In his immediate reaction to the news that Hosni Mubarak has left power in Egypt. It’s too soon to tell what happens next, but the excitement is strong in Tahrir Square. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Feb 2011 11:10

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World: BREAKING: Hosni Mubarak steps down as Egyptian president

  • yesterday In a defiant speech, Hosni Mubarak made it clear that he was in fact not stepping down from his perch as Egyptian leader.
  • today Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak just stepped down today. Guess that wasn’t so true, huh? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 09:34

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World: Is Hosni Mubarak effectively out? Most signs point to yes.

So, what happens when you claim to still be the leader of a country, then immediately leave the city as if in exile? Considering Hosni Mubarak’s recent moves, we may find out. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Feb 2011 22:21

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World: What’s happening in Egypt, though an American’s words

  • What Americans should fear is the possibility of an increasingly illegitimate regime continuing to control one of the most strategically important countries in the Mideast.
  • Phoenix resident Max Mattern • In an article talking about his time in Egypt in the wake of the recent protests. Mattern was there studying as a Fulbright scholar, but the situation in the country has complicated those plans and put him in the middle of a major crisis zone. Mattern, writing in a piece for the Arizona Republic, says that the people of Egypt want change, but the protests are taking a lot out of them. “Although a sizable majority dislikes Mubarak and his policies,” he writes. “after a week of fear and violence they have had enough.” Mattern says that the protesters are sincere and have no evil plots to bring theocracy to the society. The current regime, however, troubles them. (thanks missmaestra, who has been covering her friend’s situation on Tumblr) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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